Send ideas to montereycountynow.com/events 34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com prominently in many of his stories. Books like Cannery Row and East of Eden quickly come to mind. Or perhaps you think of the book Flight, based along the Big Sur coast, or Tortilla Flat. His legacy lives across the county— from Steinbeck Plaza on Cannery Row to the Steinbeck House, the Victorian home where he was born and raised in Salinas. On Saturday, the National Steinbeck Center celebrates The Log from the Sea of Cortez, a nonfiction book documenting his expedition with biologist Ed Ricketts aboard the Western Flyer, with a street fair. [KR] 10am-2pm Saturday, Sept. 27. 100 block of Main Street, Salinas. Free. 775-4721, steinbeck.org. SHUTTER SPEED Carmel is a photographic epicenter with various photo galleries, photographers and a photographic history linked to nature master photographers including Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. The city also offers a postcard-perfect atmosphere that contributes to this visual art. During Carmel’s photo walks, both professionals and amateur photo enthusiasts enjoy an array of imagery from black-andwhite to color, analog to digital images moments frozen in time. The participants will have the opportunity to take a prize home. [CJ] 1-5pm Saturday, Sept. 27. Various locations in Carmel; 5pm reception at the Center for Photographic Art, San Carlos and 9th. Free. 625-5181, photography.org. VOICES RISING The Monterey Peninsula Gospel Community Choir is about joyful singing, yes. But they are also about serious musicianship. They are not just any church choir—they’ve been touring, and performed in Stockholm earlier this year. Taking gospel music international has become part of the group’s DNA. “It’s great to see people embracing a genre that was born here in the U.S.,” says director John Nash Jr. He adds that ultimately, it is about sharing the joy: “I am a product of gospel music all my life, since I was 9. This choir, they are novices; most of them never sang gospel before, but they love it.” They hope audiences do too. [SR] 5pm Saturday, Sept. 27. First Presbyterian Church, 501 El Dorado St., Monterey. Free. mpgcc.org. Saturday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 28 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People has been adapted into a new version titled An Enemy of the Pueblo. In the original play, Ibsen explores the tension between the bitter realities of modern versus traditional ways of life. However, this modern adaptation of the story, opening this weekend at the Western Stage in Salinas, reimagines the story in a border town called Milagros. It follows a Curandera (a traditional Latin American folk healer) who, in trying to warn the townspeople that their water is being poisoned, finds that few believe her, as their economic futures depend on the spring that attracts white tourists, or “gringos,” back to the area. [KR] 7:30pm Fridays-Saturdays; 2pm Sundays, Sept. 27-Oct. 19. Western Stage, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. $12-$28. 755-6816, westernstage.com. NO ORDINARY SHOW Do you love Sade’s velvet vocals, sultry grooves and timeless sensuality? The Ultimate Sade Tribute with Ariel Marin (aka the Sade of the Bay) is coming to Salinas to celebrate the English band led by Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu. Hear the greatest Sade hits, such as “Smooth Operator,” “No HOT PICKS That’s about all we can say; the rest you’ll have to experience. Monroe is backed by a band of renown, including Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen. But there’s more. Through their nonprofit Raven Drum Foundation, the concert benefits First Responder Resiliency. So it’s good for the mind, the soul and for others. [DF] 7pm Thursday, Sept. 25. Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between 8th and 9th, Carmel. $56-$156. 622-0100, pacrep. org. Friday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 28 ON THE GRID People tend to overuse the phrase “something for everyone.” And we’ll be honest—the Gridlife Laguna Festival doesn’t have something for those who want a quiet, contemplative, sedate weekend. But for those who crave action, cool cars, hip music, games and shopping, Gridlife is for you. Catch club racing and full course drifting— you read that right, smoking tires in every corner—on the famed track. The main stage has an evening of music from performers like Joey Valence & Brae, Emo Nite, Whatmore and more— it’s a long list. There is an arcade and motoring meetup for people to show off their cars and more than we can fit in this space. [DF]. 8am-9pm Friday-Saturday, Sept. 26-27; 8am-3pm Sunday, Sept. 28. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. $50-$75; $125/three-day package; $195/VIP. gridlifelaguna.com. Saturday, Sept. 27 KISSING SISTERS In September 1995—30 years ago— Monterey became a sister city with Nanao, Japan, a city that has undergone a similar economic transition, from fishing to tourism. It too has a Fisherman’s Wharf, and an annual jazz festival named after Monterey. To celebrate the 30th anniversary between the two cities, 20 delegates from Nanao, including the mayor, will be visiting Monterey, and the Japanese American Citizens League will be hosting a day of activities at its hall on Adams Street. We’re talking taiko drumming, a flute recital, a tea ceremony, traditional Japanese festival dance, and of course food and drink. There will also be a slideshow inside about the devastating, 7.5-magnitude earthquake near Nanao on Jan. 1, 2024. The event is being called “Nanao Day”—the mayors of both Monterey and Nanao will be there—and it’s all going down at the JACL Hall, a welcoming spot, in the middle of the day. [DS] 10am-2pm Saturday, Sept. 27. JACL Hall, 424 Adams St., Monterey. Free. jaclmonterey.org. STEINBECK STROLL John Steinbeck needs little introduction, but we’ll give it a go. One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, he powerfully penned the experiences of the working class, of society during and following the Great Depression. His work is deeply tied to place and, for the Salinas-born author, Monterey County locales are featured The Monterey Peninsula Gospel Community Choir is celebrating Gospel Music Heritage Month (September) with a concert on Saturday, Sept. 27. Nanao, Japan, which is a Monterey sister city, is known for its tea culture. Celebrate the sisterhood with the Japanese American Citizens League on Saturday, Sept. 27. DANA RUSSELL
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